Proposal of mycorrhization of forest tree seedlings using summer truffle [Tuber aestivum] in Poland

Truffles belong to the hypogeous fungi living in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with many forest tree and shrub species. Some truffle species such as black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) or summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) are valuated for their smell and special taste. The confirmed occurrence of summer truffles in Poland may lead to a conclusion that cultivation of this species under Polish conditions might become an alternative to traditional truffle cultivation regions. This is of particular importance given that, in the Mediterranean countries with climate disturbances, the number of truffle fruiting bodies declines while the demand for them grows continuously. In addition to their economic value for producers, establishing truffle orchards is also beneficial with regard to nature protection. The paper presents soil and climate requirements of the summer truffle and the indispensable conditions for establishing so called "truffle orchards"

Medicinal properties of macrofungi

This review highlights the importance to people of some types of wild fungi considered in the context of non-wood forest products. Macrofungi are used both for food and medicine proposes. Substances isolated from the higher Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes mushrooms express promising immune modulating, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial and antidiabetic properties. They have been, and are presently, used against cancer in some countries in Far East as well as in the United States of America and Canada. Their useful properties are mainly conferred by biologically-active polysaccharides present in the fruiting bodies and cultured mycelium. A few dozen different polysaccharide antitumor agents have been developed from such species as: Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinus edodes, Schizophylum commune, Trametes versicolor and Inonotus obliquus. In the review some other fungi and their properties are also described. The information is provided to widen our knowledge of the importance of the organisms that live in forest ecosystems

Biodiversity and the role of soil bacteria in a forest environment

Microorganisms commonly inhabit all environments in which they can survive. The number of bacteria in soil depends on its structure, moisture and nutrient content, and ranges from a few hundred to several thousand per gram of soil. Qualitative and quantitative composition of bacteria mainly depends on physico−chemical agents, soil and vegetation cover, the content of biogenic elements, but also on the salinity and pollution. In the case of forest soils number of bacteria amounts to about 4.8×10 9 per 1 cm 3 of soil. In the rhizosphere, the soil directly surrounding plant roots, there are organisms that affect the biochemical activity of plants. The main representatives of bacteria, which are present in the rhizosphere layer, are species of the genera: Pseudomonas and Bacillus, Acidobacteria that protect plants against attack of pathogens. Soil microorganisms form a symbiosis with vascular plants. Because of their properties, they are effective antagonists against fungi that cause plant diseases (leaf spots, roots and shoot apices disease, as well as rot). This group includes such species as: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides or the species belonging to Oomycetes, for example Phytophthora and Pythium. Bacteria also protect plants against harmful insects and inhibit the growth of fungal diseases. The beneficial role of bacteria is observed in the development of truffles as well. They are responsible for providing nitrogen to the mycelium forming fruiting bodies. Bacteria improve plant growth and protect their host against drought. Understanding the diversity of bacteria that have important role in the functioning of ecosystems, including forest ecosystems, remains a challenge for microbiologists

Ectomycorrhizal structure and biometric parameters of pine after planting on post-agricultural land

The focus of the research was on the effect of inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Thelephora terrestris on changes in mycorrhizal structure and growth parameters of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. Before planting on post−agricultural land, the seedlings were grown under laboratory conditions for six months, at two different nitrogen fertilization rates [Hilszczańska, Sierota 2006a]. Mycorrhizae formed by T. terrestris dominated in the mycorrhizal structure during two growing seasons after planting irrespective of the growth variant applied. However, their higher percentage was detected in seedlings artificially inoculated with T. terrestris mycelium. The inoculation did not limit mycorrhiza formation by other mycorrhizal fungi. No significant differences in parameter values were found between inoculated and non−inoculated seedlings

The role of Thelephora terrestris fungus in mycorrhization on Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris L.] seedlings

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings which were inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungus – Thelephora terrestris and grown in different regimes of N fertilization [Hilszczanska, Sierota 2006], next year were planted out on post−agricultural land. The development of fine roots after 6 months of vegetation, number of mycorrhizas, identity of some mycorrhizas and growth parameters of Scots pine seedlings were studied. Mycorrhizal abundance was higher in the inoculated previously variants than in non−inoculated ones. PCR RFLP analysis confirmed share of two different isolates of Thelephora engaged in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Growth parameters was higher in non−inoculated seedlings. Vitality of seedlings was lower at lower level of N fertilization in non−inoculated treatment

Content of mineral nutrients in Scots pine seedlings inoculated with Thelephora terrestris

The changes of N, P, K, Ca and Mg content in Scots pine needles over 4 years of the experiment were estimated in 2 treatments – inoculated in laboratory with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Thelephora terrestris and non inoculated (control). The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse for one season and then planted out into post−agricultural soil. Statistically significant differences were found only for Mg concentration in needles of two−year−old initially inoculated seedlings. For both treatments N and K concentration differed between all analysed years of growth. In the case of P and Ca concentration differences were found neither for treatments, nor for years. Four−year−old inoculated seedlings had lower concentration of all investigated nutrients with the exception of Ca. In both treatments the concentration of nutrients was at optimal level for four−year−old seedlings’ growth. Obtained results suggest that environmental conditions as well as plant metabolism may influence the nutrient concentration in the needles more strongly than their uptake by ectomycorrhizal symbionts on the roots

Changes in ectomycorrhizal structure of Scots pine growing on abandoned farmland soil enriched with organic substrates

An assessment of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Pinus sylvestris L. growing on abandoned post−agricultural soil was performed. The seedlings were growing at three different treatments of soil amendments (harvest residue, bark compost and sawdust). As a control treatment, the soil without any amendments was used. The comparison of ectomycorrhizal structure done ten years after the application of organic substrates showed no significant changes in species richness level. The most frequent taxa, irrespective of the treatment, was Wilcoxina sp. The result seems to be connected with high nitrogen level in the soil. Ectomycorrhizae of Cortinarius sp. and Pinirhiza spp. dominated in all treatments. The results showed that species richness and abundance of live and dead mycorrhizae depend on soil conditions, which are similar on treatment and control plots

The role of Thelephora terrestris fungus in mycorrhization on Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris L.] seedlings. I. Laboratorial study

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings grow under two different regimes of N fertilization, and were artificially inoculated with Thelephora terrestris Fr. fungus. Higher percentage of mycorrhizal colonization possessed seedlings that were inoculated and grown in lower level of N. The highest growth parameters (length of shoots and dry weights of shoots) had seedlings that grew in higher level of N, and had not been given to inoculation by T. terrestris. Mycorrhization enhanced needles nutrient content, such as: P, K, Ca, and Mg

Structure of post-fire ectomycorrhizal communities of Scots pine stand in a dry coniferous forest habitat

Ectomycorrhizal communities associated with Pinus sylvestris growing on dry coniferous forest habitat after the fire were studied. In order to investigate the fire effect on ectomycorrhizal fungi and changes of soil parameters in the upper (0−15 cm) soil layer three study plots were established: 1 – the control, 2 – fire zone left for artificial renewal (with the economic method of renewal) and 3 – fire zone left for natural renewal. The analysis of mycorrhizae revealed presence of eight mycorrhizal fungi on Scots pine roots and the value of Shannon−Wiener species diversity index H’ equaled to 1.76. The most abundant were mycorrhizae formed by Tomentella feruginea (31.7%) and Hebeloma crustuliniforme (23.3%). The fraction of Paxillus involutus and Rhizopogon sp. mycorrhizae was 16.7% and 13.0%, respectively. The lowest was the number of Thelephora terrestris mycorrhizae (only 1.7%). At the site 2, number of mycorrhizal fungi diminished to five and Shannon−Wiener species diversity index was also lower (1.37). The predominant were mycorrhizae of Cenococcum geophilum (26.7%) and P. involutus (21.7%), whilst the lowest were mycorrhizae of Suillus luteus (1.7%). Although at the third site the number of ectomycorrhizal fungi was the same as on the site 2, the dominance of Thelephora terrestris (66.7%) caused that Shannon−Wiener’s species diversity index was the lowest (1.05). Mycorrhizae of Paxillus involutus and Wilcoxina mikolae were characterised by similar abundance (13.3% and 11.7%, respectively). The lowest number of mycorrhizae was observed for Tomentella sp. (3.3%). Analysis of soil parameters showed an increase of pH on burnt sites in comparison to the control. The soil of burnt sites were also characterised by lower value of C and C/N ratio than the soil on the control treatment. The result showed that ubiquitous mycorrhizal fungi, such as T. terrestis, are able to persist on roots in changed soil environment with low content of nutritions

Metabolic activity of Tuber aestivum/Tuber uncinatum Vittad mycellium

Celem prezentowanych badań było oznaczenie aktywności enzymów wydzielanych do podłoża przez dwie formy trufli letniej: Tuber aestivum i Tuber uncinatum Vittad. W pracy wykazano, że T. aestivum i T. uncinatum uwalniają do podłoża hodowlanego białka enzymatyczne o aktywności: lakazy, proteazy, lipazy oraz celulazy i ksylanazy. Analiza aktywności enzymatycznej w płynnych hodowlach obu form trufli letniej wykazała znaczne różnice biochemiczne pomiędzy nimi. Obserwowano zdecydowanie większą aktywność zewnątrzkomórkowych enzymów u T. aestivum, szczególnie lakazową i peptydazową. Wyniki badań wskazują na różną swoistość substratową lipaz wydzielanych przez te trufle: T. uncinatum syntetyzuje lipazy wykazujące aktywność tylko do octanu p-nitrofenolu, natomiast T. aestivum – także do palmitynianu p-nitrofenolu. W hodowlach obu form trufli wykryto niewielką aktywność celulolityczną i ksylanolityczną. Ksylanazy i celulazy oraz lakazy wydzielane przez grzybnię obu form tych trufli mogą brać udział w procesie zawiązywania symbiozy mykoryzowej.Truffle have long been appreciated for their culinary value. However, knowledge about their biochemical activity is still insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to preliminarily assess the enzymatic activity of two forms of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.). The results showed that studied fungi of the genus truffle (Tuber spp.) – T. aestivum and T. uncinatum secrete extracellular enzymatic proteins with activities of: laccase, protease lipase, cellulase and xylanase. The high activity of the enzyme was observed between 10th and 20th day of truffle cultivation in liquid culture. Higher activity of all tested enzymes was detected in the culture of T. aestivum. Significant differences observed in the level and kind of enzymatic activity might indicate different metabolic activity of studied forms of summer truffle